17th November 2025

Vhi has announced a new agreement with Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre, becoming the first health insurer in Ireland to offer its members guaranteed faster access to specialist women’s healthcare services.

Building on Vhi’s existing suite of supports for women’s health, including fertility benefits, pregnancy care, and menopause care through the Vhi Women’s Health Clinic in Carrickmines, this agreement expands access to consultant-led care in areas such as gynaecology, urology, endocrinology, breast health, gastroenterology, pain medicine, cardiology and psychology.

The Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre, a €16 million investment by Blackrock Health Group at 2-5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2 offers capacity for up to 340 outpatient appointments per day.  With a team of 32 consultants, four women’s medicine specialists and 30 ancillary healthcare professionals and support staff, Vhi members will have access to an array of specialist services, all designed specifically for the health needs of women.

Vhi members will benefit from:

• Urgent GP to consultant referral: within 3 days
• Non-urgent GP to consultant referral: within 10 days
• Consultant appointments: average wait time of 2 weeks
• Diagnostics: within 2 weeks

Members will have access to direct pay diagnostics such as DEXA and mammography. Direct pay procedures including hysteroscopy, breast biopsy, and pain injections will be available in an ambulatory setting, and additional services such as ultrasound, psychology, physiotherapy, and blood tests will be covered under Vhi’s outpatient and day-to-day benefits.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Aaron Keogh, Managing Director, Vhi Insurance DAC said "Vhi currently invests over €20 million annually in women’s health. This agreement with Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre reflects our commitment to improving access to high quality, specialist care for women. We’re responding to what our members have told us they need - faster and more reliable healthcare."

Dr Caroline Whelan, CEO of Blackrock Health Group, added: "We are pleased to secure this agreement with Vhi to deliver a new standard in women’s healthcare. The Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre is a state-of-the-art facility that represents a pivotal milestone in our commitment to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and specialised care that empowers women at every stage of their health journey.”

Vhi members can now seek a GP referral to any of the services, or self-refer to certain services such as Menopause Clinic, women’s medicine consultation, sexual health consultation, pelvic health, dietetics and nutrition consultation, within Blackrock Health’s Women’s Health Centre.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Niamh Walker, Vhi T: 086 608 6764 E: niamh.walker@vhi.ie

Brighid Smyth, Vhi T: 086 827 0905 E: brighid.smyth@vhi.ie